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My first business trip

I'm going away for 4 days in September - DD3 will be 19 months. She nurses at bedtime, 2 - 3 times a night and again in the morning. Sometimes we nurse for nap if I'm home. We're not ready to wean.

I'm assuming I'm going to have to pump. I don't know how often. My body hasn't responded to the pump with DD3 so I haven't bothered to even try for months.... The last time I did I didn't even get an ounce. DD3's health and weight-gain say my production is fine.

I'll be staying in the home of a coworker, along with my boss. Neither of which have children. How do you approach discussing pumping with people who haven't been introduced to such things?

You'd think with this being my 3rd BF baby - with about 4 years of nursing under my belt that I'd be a little more confident about all of this. However I've never left my girls. Never even an over night. So this is virgin territory for me.

Re: My first business trip

I honestly don't know that the accommodations are. We'll be guests in my coworkers home. Since my boss is coming too, I don't know if she has 2 guest rooms or if I'll be on a pull out in the middle of the living room! LOL
There's a part of me that is really excited to go. There's a part of me that doesn't want to leave my babies!!

Re: My first business trip

Basically I think I would say "excuse me, I am going to pump, I am still lactating and if I don't pump once in a while it can hurt." Then if they have any questions beyond that they can ask. If I were the host, I would ask "do you need anything." And you can answer "yes, about 30 minutes (or whatever you need) in a room with an outlet and privacy, or whatever it is you need. If anything.

I did not want to bother transporting my milk when I pumped during a trip when my nurseling was two, so I pumped into a breastmilk bag, closed it up, and tossed it in the garbage. (I totally forget why I could not just put the milk down the sink.) I think I pumped twice a day-once in the morning and once near bedtime.

Re: My first business trip

Whenever I've had to discuss pumping requirements with strangers or aquaintances, I just address it directly, and without making a big deal about it. This has happened during long meetings, retreats, and trainings -- it usually sounds like, "I just wanted to let you know that because I'm breastfeeding, I will need to take a break of about 20 minutes to pump. I am letting you know now because I don't want to interrupt or appear rude later when I have to step out. Can you suggest a space I can use, and would X-o-clock be a good break in your agenda?" I've always had a good response. You can probably be less formal about it because you'll be in someone's home. But I just state it as an expectation (rather than a request) and folks are accommodating.

Re: My first business trip

My LO is 17 months and I was just away for four days. I ended up pumping in the morning and the evening. I didn't push it to see how long I could go without pumping since I'm prone to plugged ducts, but that schedule ended up keeping me comfortable.

Re: My first business trip

I couldn't end up fitting the pump, so went without it. It went just fine! The second night I felt a little full but a hot shower took care of it.

I got home late on the Sunday night. I decided to crawl into bed with DD3 to nurse. She gave a little whimper when I first got in, sleepily realized it was me and latched right on like a champ. We haven't missed a beat since.